Record playing device



Dec. l, 1953 F. l.. BIDINGER 2,661,217

RECORD PLAYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 5, 1947 12 Sheets-Sheet l F. l..BIDINGER '2,661,217

RECORD PLAYING DEVICE Dec. l, 1953 Filed Deo. s, 1947 12 sheets-sheet '2Dec. l, 1953 Filed Dec. 5, 1947 Illu:

L- Ezdznqer Dec. l, 1953 Filed Dec. 5, 1947 F. l.. BIDINGER 2,661,217

RECORD PLAYING DEVICE 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 1, 1953 F. l.. BIDINGER2,661,217

RECORD PLAYING DEVICE Filed Deo. 3, 1947 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 1, 953F. L. BIDINGER 2,661,217

RECORD PLAYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 5, 1947 12 Sheets-Sheet@ Dec. l, 1953F, L. BlDlNGl-:R 2,661,217

RECORD PLAYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 5, 1947 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 F. L.BIDINGER 2,661,217

RECORD PLAYING DEVICE 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 Dec. 1, 1953 Filed Dec. :5, 1947Dec. l, 1953 F. l.. BIDINGER 2,661,217

RECORD PLAYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 5, .w47I 12 sheets-sheet 9 Dec. l, 1953F. L. BIDINGER 2,661,217

RECORD PLAYING DEVICE Filed Dec. 5, 1947 12 Sheets-Sheeflo Dec. 1, 1953Filed Dec. 5, 1947 F. L. BIDINGER 2,661,217

RECORD PLAYING DEVICE 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 TURNTABLE MOTOR Dec. 1, 1953 F.L. BIDINGER 2,661,217

RECORD PLAYING DEVICE Filed Deo. s, 1947 12 sheets-sheet 12 PatentedDec. l, 1953 UNITED STATES .TENT OFFICE This invention relates torecordplaying devices and has more particular reference to 1mprovements indisc record players.

In general this invention has as its object the provision of improvedmeans for supporting andl rotating disc records during playing ofthereoords.

More specifically it is an object of this'inven'-v tion to provide arecord player'by which both sides oi disc' records may be playedautomatically and insuccession by means of simple but eilicientmechanism occupying but a minimum of space.

Another object of this invent1onv resides 1n the provision of novel discrecord supporting mechanism embodying a number of wheels operable torotate the records for playing thereof without requiring theconventional record turntable but which may be employed' together withthe turntable to greatly facilitate and simplify" the playing of bothsides of a disc record.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of anautomatic record player embodying a number of traction wheels forsupporting and rotating disc records during playing thereof, and in theprovision of operating mechanismcooperable with record dropping means toautomatically govern the playing of both sides ofrecords dropped by thedropping mechanism.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision ofimproved mechanism for handling and playing disc records by whichabuseof the records is held to a minimum.

Still another object of thisoinvention resides in the provision of acompact automatic record playing device by which both sides of a discrecord may be played in succession, and Which may be set to operate forthe automatic playing of one side of records or the playing of singlerecords manually.

With the above and other objects in View, which Will appear as thedescription proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly deincd by the appended claim, it beingunderstood that such changes in the precise embodiment of thehereindisclosed invention may be made as come Within the scope of theclaim.

The accompanying drawings illustrate two complete examplesV of thephysical embodiment of the invention constructed Aaccording to the bestmodes so far devised for the practical application of theprinciplesvthereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of an automatic 2 record playing deviceembodying the principles; of" this invention;

Figure 2 isa plan view of the device shov'v4 in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a`v view looking at the underside of the record player shownin Figure 2;l

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken throughk Figure 3 along the'line ffl-4;

Figure is'a detail sectional View taken through Figure 3 alongthe'line'5-5;'

Figures 6, "l, 8 and gare moreor less diagrammatic side elevationalviews illustrating the mari-V ner' in which the recordA supportingvWheels are employed during the automatic and* successive playing of bothsides of a disc record:

Figures 10, llq 12, 13'; 1'4 and 15 area;v succession of viewsdia'erammatically' illustrating the mechanism for' controlling themovements of the" pickup arm-ofv the player;

Figure 1:6 is a sectional View taken thrdugh" Figure 1 on the plane ofthe line lli-I6;

Figure 17 is'an exploded perspective View of a portion' or the'structure'illustratedV in Figure 16;

Figure 18I is.' an exploded p'e'rspec'tive"vievv'l of another portion ofthe'structure shown in Figure 16;` v

Figure ismsv a; pian View diagrammaticauy i1'- lustrating the mechanismfor' controllingv the elevation of the' record supporting Wheels dur--Ying the transfer" of a record therefrom tothe turntable;`

Figure 20 isa chart showing' the sequence of operationof the variousinstrumentalities ofthe" record' player of this invention;

Figures2l, 22'and 2'3'are' side elevationalv views similar toilFiguresto 9 inclusive but showing the manner in which the topsides ofv recordsmaybe automatically played by the record playing de-` vice -of lthisinvention;

Figuresr24`,-25 and 26 are fragmentary views'illustrating a portion ofthe selector intrumentalities by which4 the 'record' playingdevicebotthis invention maybe setV for the automatic play-ing of one side ofdisc'records, andlby which the de# vice maybe'v set to automaticallyplay bothl sides of records in succession or'to enable playing: ofv onesidefofI records manually;

Figure 27 is -an-electrical` diagram showing. the electrical` controlsystem for they record playing.- device of this invention; and

Figure-28 is adiagrammatical view illustrating. a modied embodimentof'thisvinvention.

Referring now more particularly.A to the accom-l panying drawings-inVwhich like numeralsy designate like parts, the numeral generallydesignates the record player of this invention. The player has a baseplate E which provides for mounting the device in a cabinet and servesto support the operating mechanism at the underside thereof. A turntable'I of more or less conventional design is rotatably journalled on thebase plate at the topside thereof to support and rotate records for theplaying of the topsides of such records, and has the usual uprightrecord spindle 8 projecting therefrom to hold the records on theturntable for rotation in a horizontal plane and on a xed vertical axis.

'Ihe turntable is adapted to be driven by an electric motor I secured tothe underside of the base plate and drivngly connected with a frictionwheel I2 beneath the turntable and tracking on the inside of a rimaround the periphery of the table in a more or less conventional manneras indicated in Figure 2 so as to impart rotation to the turntable in aclockwise direction on the axis of the spindle shaft I I.

As shown best in Figures 1 and 2, the record playing device of thisinvention is provided with automatic record dropping mechanism I3. Thisdropping mechanism may be of any conventional design, but for purposesof illustration has been shown as comprising sets of diametricallyopposite leaves or blades I4 mounted from upright posts I5 alongside theperiphery of the turntable for swinging motion in a horizontal plane. Asis well known, these blades are adapted to hold a stack of records to beplayed a distance above the turntable, and when swung outwardly inunison on their posts I5 in the proper direction (counterclockwise asseen in Figure 2) release the bottom record of the stack for descenttoward the turntable. While not shown, it is to be understood thatsuitable and conventional mechanism is provided at the underside of thebase plate for swinging the blades in unison on their posts.

Ordinarily, release of the bottom record of a stack supported by theblades of the record dropping mechanism I3 results in the releasedrecord dropping down the spindle 8 and onto the turntable for theplaying of the topside of the record thereon. According to the presentinvention, however, the record thus released by the dropping mechanismis adapted to be received on the peripheries of a number of tractionwheels I'I interposed edgewise between the turntable and the stack ofrecords held by the dropping mechanism. Hence, a record dropped onto theWheels is supported thereby at a level intermediate the bottom of thestack held by the dropping mechanism and the turntable, and at a heightabove the turntable corresponding to the diameter of the wheels I'I.

-Inasmuch as the wheels I1 have a rim of yieldable material I8 such asrubber or an equivalent material having a high coefficient of friction,the descent of the record released by the dropping mechanism iscushioned upon contact with the wheels so as to prevent damage to therecord.

As shown best in Figures 1 and 2, there are preferably three tractionwheels I'I provided for the support of a record at an elevation abovethe turntable, and these wheels are supported from posts I9, 20, and 2|located at equispaced points about the periphery of the turntable, andall rotatable on Vertical axes. 'I'he posts I9 and 20 are identical andare preferably located near the back edge of the base plate, as seen inFigure 2, while the post 2| comprises a master control post and alsoprovides a swinging support for the pickup arm 22 of the player.

Each of the wheels I'I is journalled for free rotation on a horizontalaxis and is carried at the outer end of an arm 23 of a length such as todispose the wheels over the turntable or any records resting thereonwhen the arms are disposed radially of the spindle 8. A hub 24 on theinner end of each arm provides for mounting the same on its post. Thehub of the arm received on the master post 2I is xed to a turned downstem 25 on the upper end of this post as by means of a set screw 26;while the hubs of the arms received on the posts I9 and 20 have squarewells opening to their undersides (see Figure 6) to receive the squareupper ends of the posts. Screws 26' passing through the hubs andthreading into the upper extremities of the latter two posts serve toanchor the hubs to the posts.

Inasmuch as all of the posts are otherwise similar, only the master post2I has been shown in detail, and as best seen in Figures 16 and 17 themaster post comprises a quill or tube 21 rotatably received in a bushing28 fixed in a suitable aperture (not shown) in the base plate with theplate clamped between a flange 28 on the upper end of the bushing and anut 29 threaded onto the lower portion of the bushing. An annularshoulder 30 on the tube at its intermediate portion seats on the flange28 of the bushing and cooperates with the iiange 3I of a pulley 32rotatably received on the lower extremity of the tube just beneath thebushing to hold the quill or tube 21 against up and down motion in thebushing.

A square shaft 33, integral with the stem 25 in the case of the masterpost, is slidably but nonrotatably received inside each tube 2'! to turntherewith but to be movable up and down relative to the tube to enablevertical adjustment of the wheel thereon relative to the turntable. Thehub 24 of the wheel supported by the master post occupies the upperportion of the stem 25, and a second hub 34 is freely rotatably receivedon the stem 25 beneath the wheel hub. The hub 34 has a tubular arm 34'fixed to and projecting laterally therefrom substantially at rightangles to the post, and a rock shaft 35 projecting at right angles fromthe inner end of the pickup arm is rotatably received in said tubulararm 34' so that the pickup arm is supported therefrom for up and downpivotal or rocking motion on the horizontal axis of the arm 34 and forbodily swinging motion about the stem 25 in a substantially horizontalplane.

It will be apparent, therefore, that the wheels I'i are freely rotatableon horizontal axes and are supported from their respective posts forbodily swinging motion about vertical axes adjacent to the periphery ofthe turntable; and that when the wheels are swung inwardly over theturntable to positions tracking on the turntable and with their axes ofrotation normal to and intersecting the axis of the spindle 8, they arecapable of supporting a record on their peripheries in spacedsuperimposed relationship to the turntable and with the underside of therecord accessible for playing. Also, when the wheels are swung on theirrespective posts to an inoperative position rolled off of the turntable,as indicated in construction lines in Figure 2, they effect transfer ofa record from their peripheries to the turntable for the playing of thetopside of said record.

It is important to note that the pickup arm 22,*.whenfin a vhorizontalposition,..aligns with ithe space between the turntable and a recordsupported on the peripheries ofthe ywheels i1, and the arm may bereadily swung horizontallyinto and out of .said space toenable theplaying of the underside of arecordfonrthe'wheels or cthe topside of arecord transferred from the wheels to the turntable.

In the present instance the outer endof -the pickup arm is provided withthe -usual pickup cartridge (not shown) andhas a record engaging stylus31 which projects both upwardly and downwardly so as to be engageableveither with the underside of a record fsupportedon thewheels uponupward tilting of the pickup arm or to be engaged with a record on theturntable upon downward tilting of the pickuparm.

inasmuch as the wheelsl are supportedfrom their square shafts 33 rforup-and down motion, it-follows that the wheels are free .to ride up andonto a record transferred to the turntable from the peripheries of thewheels. Because of the fact the played records accumulate on theturntable however, it is desirable to maintain the wheels at apredetermined elevation with respect -to the topmost record on theturntable each time the wheels are swung oir the turntable to effecttransfer of a record thereto, so that itis merely necessary for thewheels to climb `up and onto thelast record transferred to theturntable,

For this purpose wheel supporting structures ware provided, one for eachofthe wheel supporting shafts 33. rlhe wheel supporting structures 4Bare fixed to .the underside of the base plate, onealongside eachof thewheelposts, and each such supporting structure includes an attachingportion il engaged flatwise with and secured to the underside of thebase plate, and a flange A32 depending vertically therefrom and turnedsubstantially edgewise to the axis-of its adjacent post. A comb i3 isconnected flatwise to one side of the flange 42 by means of verticallyspaced pins lll anchored in the ange and received in substantially shortvertically extending slots l5 in the bar.

By reason of this connection the comb is enabled to slide upwardly alimited distance, and to drop down to a position determined by theengagement Yof Athe pins il!! with the upper extremities ofthe slots a5.Comb teeth l5 project outwardly from one edge Vof each comb toward theadjacentpostandthe spacingof theseteeth corresponds to the averagethickness of disc records.

Cooperating with the combs are sector-like plates or flanges di, one Xedtothe bottom portion of each shaft 33 so as to be rotatable edgewisetherewith and to be movable up'and down with its shaft 33. These platesare so vrelated to the comb teeth that upon retractionof thewheels fromthe turntable or the top most record resting thereon, the plates 4lsimultaneously'enter one-of the spaces between two adjacent teeth on thebottom portions of the combs adjacentthereto. Hence the lowermcst of thetwo adjacent teeth of the combs thus engaged support the entire wheelassemblies through the plates resting thereon during the entire time thewheels are ofi the turntable.

VSince the spaces between the comb teeth on each bank thereof arearranged to align with and receive the plates ll'l therebetween at eachsuccessively higher operating level of the wheels on the turntableduring the automatic playing of a stack of records, it follows `that thecombteeth support the wheel Aassemblies `in predetermined elevationalrelationship 'to the .-.toxunost' Qi ithe records accumulatingon theturntable, for :in

other words with :the peripheries of the .wheels at.

wheels reach r`their operative positions: tracking;

on thetopmost .recordgof the'istack, or upon'ithe turntablexitself, so:that the lwheels `may rest on the turntable or said ztoprnost recordthereon under the bias of the 4Weight of the wheel assemblies to thereby`establish a .good frictionall driving connection between .thewheels and*.the turntable.

rIhe supporting structures 4D also are designed to provideYrotationalstops for the .wheels Hito limit theisame to bodily swinging`motion .cnc-.the vertical .axes lof their posts .through :an are for"no more than For this purposeea'ch of fthe structures 40 isprovideidwith.a :vertical flange d2 parallel to the `flange. 4,2 fbutspacedtherefromat the side of the latter facing'th'e turntable. Abutments 48 .on tthe.arcuate extremities 1of reach of the sector-like plates 41 cooperate.with the flange 52 `to limit the `Wheels .to,90 of vswinging motionbetween their operative and inoperative positions; and -itwilllbe notedthat .whilennerof the abutmentsof -each plate engages nthe :flange t2when the `wheels rare supported by 'itheir respective combs, the vother.of `it'he abutments engages the .flange '42 atfthe time the vwheelsiareproperly tracking on the Vturntable or the `topmost'record of the.turntablepand atwhich time' such successively `higher elevations along.with

the wheels I1. This is'brought abouttbyreason of the `fact that the hubk3d lof the `pickup carni rests :on the shoulder 119 atthe junctionbetween the square shaft 3S-and the reduced stem 25V of themasterpostyso 4that the wheel on thezmaster post in electliftspthepickup`arm duringlits travel onto the 'last transferred record on the.

turntablaandthus holds the-arm at the vfproper elevation .at which itiscapable vofplayingl either the underside of a record supported onthewheels or .the topside of va `record l on fthe turntable.

.The control mechanism for automatically-'governing the playingof bothsides of `records includes instrurnentalities operatedl by sets of -camscarried by each of a pair of vrnain gears A33 and 49 at .the undersideof the .base plate. These gears'are supported by stub shafts 50 forrotationon vertical a-Xes,-and it will be noted that the gear .48 liessubstantially midwaybetween gthe spindle-shaft Il andthe wheelpostYl9while.1the gear 49 is substantially midway :between the spindle shaftandthe master post 2I andthat the peripheries 'of the gears are injuxtaposition to the Vteeth of -a drive pinion `'.il on'the spindleshaft.

In the interests of clarity,-the separate'meche anisms for actuating thewheels, and the pickup arm, and the electrical control system andselecting means for governing the automatic operation of such actuatingmechanism will be described separately in the following.

Wheel actuating mechanism All of the wheel actuating mechanism islocated beneath the base plate, and this mechanism includes a pulley 52fixed to the lower extremity of each of the tubes 21 for the shafts 33,and a band 52 trained about said pulleys, to connect the wheel poststogether for rotation in unison.

When the wheels l1 are in their inoperative positions rolled oi theturntable, as is the case in Figure 3, they are adapted to be advancedin unison through an arc of 90 onto the turntable by rotation of anearly circular cam disc 55 xed to the main gear 48. This isaccomplished by a pair of rollers 51 carried by the cam 55 at itsunderside and freely rotatable on circumferentially spaced axes xed withrelation to the cam and parallel to the axis of the gear 48. Duringrotation of the cam, these rollers are adapted to be successivelyengaged with a lever arm 56 pivotally carried by the base plate to causerotation of a gear 54 xed on the lever arm and such rotation of the gear54 is translated into rotation of all the wheel posts, in acounterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 2, through a gear 53 xed onthe post I9 and meshing with the gear 54.

'Ihe gears 53 and 54 are of the same size and in order to assure 90 ofrotation of the gears, the lever arm has a slot 58 in its outer edgeinto which the leading roller 51 rides to effect swinging of the wheelspart way toward the turntable, with swinging motion of the wheels totheir operative record supporting positions being completed by theengagement of the trailing roller 51 with the trailing edge 59 of thelever arm.

While the mechanism just described is operable to effect swinging of thewheels in unison through an arc of 90 from their inoperative recordtransferring positions to their operative record receiving positionsover the turntable, other means must be employed to roll the wheels offthe turntable to their inoperative positions to effect the transfer of arecord from the peripheries of the wheels to the turntable. This lattermechanism includes a pair of rollers 62 on the underside of the gear 49rotatable on circumferentially spaced axes parallel to the axis ofrotation of the gear, and these rollers are adapted to be successivelyengaged with a lever arm 63 xed on the lower portion of the tube 21 ofthe master post as by means of a set screw 64.

The lever arm 63 has a substantially flat sector-like shape as seen bestin Figures 3 and 18 and projects iiatwise beneath the gear 49 when thewheels I1 are in their operative positions over the turntable to lie inthe path of the rollers 62. Hence, upon rotation of the gear 49 in aclockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 3) the leading roller 62 isadapted to ride into a slot 65 in the outer edge of the lever and swingthe lever in a counterclockwise direction (Figure 3) part way to thefull line position shown, to carry all the wheels part way 01T theturntable. The remainder of the arcuate swinging motion of the wheels totheir inoperative position is completed by the trailing roller 62engaging the trailing edge 66 of the arm 63.

During such swinging of the Wheels in unison to their inoperativepositions, or in other words during the time the Wheels are being rolled011 the turntable, it will be seen by reference to Figure 19 that theplates 41 on all of the posts engage the teeth on the combs 43 tosupport the wheels against dropping downwardly by gravity, and that uponactuation of the gear 54 by the rollers 51 to roll the wheels back ontothe turntable or the last transferred record thereon, the plates 41 aredisengaged from the teeth of the combs 43 just prior to the time thewheels reach their operative positions with their axes of rotationnormal to the spindle axis.

Actaating means for pickup arm As stated previously, the pickup arm, issupported by the master post 2| both for horizontal swinging motion backand forth over the turntable or into the space between the turntable anda record supported on the wheels, and for tilting motion about the axisof the horizontal rock shaft 35 to enable the stylus at the outer end ofthe arm to be engaged either with the underside of a record on thewheels or with the topside of a record on the turntable.

According to the present invention, it is a prerequisite to horizontalswinging motion of the pickup arm that the arm be moved to a "neutral"position prior to swinging motion of the arm back and forth over theturntable. The mechanism for bringing the pickup arm to a "neutralposition substantially centrally of the space between the turntable anda record supported on the wheels I1 includes a pair of angularlydisposed radial pins 13 and 1| of equal length fixed to the spindle rockshaft 35 and projecting upwardly therefrom through an arcuate slot 12 inthe tubular shaft 34 in which the spindle shaft is oscillatablyreceived, the pins and the slot 12 being located close to the hub 34 ofthe pickup arm. These pins diverge outwardly toward their free ends andare adapted to be engaged by a leveling cap 13 mounted on the top of themaster post 2| for up and down motion relative thereto by means of ahollow sleeve 14 xed to the underside of the cap. The entire shaft 33 ofthe master post is hollow, and the sleeve 14 on the cap is slidablyreceived inside the stem 25 of the master post to have a flexible wireor cord 15 pass upwardly through the post to be anchored to the levelingcap.

Thus, the cap 13 is mounted from the stem 25v of the master post in aposition above the hub 24 of the master post wheel, and a compressionspring 16 is confined between the wheel hub and the underside of the capto bias the cap upwardly away from engagement with the free extremitiesof the radial pins 10 and 1|.

When the pickup arm is in either of its tilted positions such as shownin Figures l2 and 15, it is only necessary to draw the cap 13 downwardlyagainst the force of the spring 16 onto the most nearly vertical of theradial pins to effect rocking of the spindle shaft 35 and centering orneutralizing of the pickup arm; and it will be obvious that this neutralposition is determined by engagement of the free extremities of both thepins 1U and 1l with the underside of the cap 13 as shown in Figures 10,11, 13 and 14.

The leveling cap 13 is drawn downwardly onto the radial pins 13 and 1lto effect neutralization of the pickup arm by exerting a downward pullon the cable or wire 15, and identical cams 11 and 18 xed to rotate withthe gears 48 and 49 9 'respectively are provided toeliectsuchiapl on thecable. These cams are adapted to act upon a' common horizontal bar 19therebeneath constrained to endwise sliding motion substantially towardand from the'master post`2|. One end of the bar i9 is supportedV forsuch endwise vsliding motion by means of a headed stud 80 fixed to andprojecting down from the base plate, and enga-ged in an elongated sloty82 in the end of the bar remote from the master post. The opposite endof the bar i9 `is forked as at 84 and embraces the lower extremity'ofthe shaft of the gear 49, a head 83 on the shaft engaging the underside`of the bar "i9 to support the same.

A tension spring 85 connectedbetween thebar 19 and the shaft of thelgear 49 at'all times exerts a yieldingforce on thebar tending to slidethe same endwise toward the master post and thus to relieve tension onthe cable '|51 of the leveling cap. Motion of the bar toward the masterpost, of course, is limited'by engagement of the bottom of the forkforming slot 84 with the side of the gear'shaft.

The par 'i9 carries a pair of earn follower rollers-8E and 8l at thetopside thereof for engagement with the peripheries of the cams and i8respectivelyv and against which thefollowers areA held under a degree ofspring tension by means of the spring-35.

The cams 1l' and 'i8 are so designed and so angularly related to oneanother that initial rotation of either of the cam discs 'l'i'or 18-withthe main gears i3 or d'respectively, eiects endwise sliding motion ofthe horizontal bar 1S away from the master post against the tension ofthe spring 85. Since the cable or flexible wire 'l5 is attached to thebar 'i9 as at 38, it follows that such endwise sliding of the bar awayfrom the master post draws the leveling cap i3 down onto the radial pins'lil and 1| to effect neutralization of the pickup arm in the mannerhereinbefore described. y

inasmuch as the iexible cable 'l5 makesa relatively sharp turn at thebottom of the master post it is preferably led through an elbow-liketting 90, the function of which is to assure smooth sliding of the cableand to minimize wear thereon at said turn.

For the playing of the topside of a recordfon the turntable, the weightof. the'pickup arm holds the stylus at the outer end of the arm engagedwith the record under the proper degree ofA bias, but for the playing ofthe underside of a record supported on and rotated `by the wheels it isessential that the pickup arm be biased to an f upwardly tilted positionwith a force slightly greater than the weight of the arm, but the forceof the arm against the underside o'f the record should obviously be lessthan the weight of the record supported on the wheels.

For this purpose a biasing collar 92 is mounted upon the tubular arm 34of the pickup forfree rotation thereon. This collar has a pin 93projecting longitudinally from its inner end toward the master post tolie beneath the pin on the rock shaft 35 of the arm, The pin 93 providesan anchor for one end of a tension spring 94, the opposite end of thespring being connected to the pin ii near the outer extremity of thelatter.

In the neutral or horizontal condition of the pickup arm, thedisposition of the pin 'ifi is such as to relieve the spring 94 of itstension. Likewise, in the downwardly tilted condition of the"pickuplarmshownin Figure 15, the-'springV 94 is practically free oftension.

Tension isapplied ontothe pin' 1| in a direction to exert "angupward'tilting component upon the pickup arm, however,y by rotation of thetensioning-'collar 92 'in -a direction such as to tend to separate thespring anchor 93 on the collar from'rthe radial pinlI on the rock shaft35, and withithe levelingl caprin its raised position the force of-thespring 94`is sui-rl'cientl to hold the pickuparm in its upwardtilted condition as diagrammatically seen yin AFigure l2 for the playingof theunderside of arecordsupported on and rotated by the wheels 1.

The tension necessary for the playing of the underside'iof such a recordis maintained by the engagement of a'detent part 95 on the tensioningcollar with a downwardly depending pin 9B fixed on the tubular armv 34of the pickup, the detents being shown in' their operative collarretaining positions in Figures 11, 12 and 13. It is important to notethat the pin 96 projects through an arcuate 'slot 98 inthe tensioningcollar to anchor the collar against endwise sliding on the tubular'arm34" without interfering with the required `degree of rotation -of thecollar relative to the tubular arm.

The tensioning` collar 92 is rotated in a counterclockwise Adirection toits operative tensioning position seen in Figures 11, 12, and 13 atwhich the cooperating detent parts engage with one anotherto maintainthe spring 94 stretched, by means of a hook fixed -to the collar andprojecting downwardly therefrom through an aperture |0| in the baseplate to have its hooked extremity lie in the path of the upturned end|02 of an actuator liiixed to a slide bar |065. The slide bar |04 ismounted flatwise against the underside of the base plate by means ofspaced studs |05 engaged yin a longitudinalslot in the slide bar andwhich constrain the slide to endwise motion vin av substantiallyhorizontal plane towardfand from lthelower extremity of the hookIiiil'when theV pickup arm is in an inoperative positinswung outwardlyaway from4 the turntable. A spring |06 connected to one of the studs|05'v and with the slide bar as at |07 tends to draw the-slide bartoward the extremity of the hook-|00 in which direction motion of theslide isV limited by the engagementoftheother of the lstuds withtheadacentend ofthe slot in the The'slide bar |04 is moved endwise awayfrom the'rocking axis of the pickup'arm by means of alever ||0 overlyingthe cam disc 55 and carried by a pivot xed to the underside of thebaseplate with the pivot axis of the lever spaced a short distanceoutwardly from the periphery of the cam disc Sliand substantially closeto the wheelv post I9. One arm ||2 of the lever is connected by means ofa flexible cable ||3 with the slide bar |04 so that swinging of thelever in a counterclo'ckwise direction as viewed in Figure 3 draws theslide bar away from the rocking axis of the pickup arm against thetension of the spring |06.

pable of holding the pickup arm in an upwardly tilted position by suchendwise sliding motion of the slide |04 in consequence to swinging ofthe lever in a counterclockwise direction. The tensioning collar 92 isadapted to be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures to15 inclusive to disengage the same from the detent mechanism and therebyeffect removal of the tension on the pickup arm by means of an arm xedon the hub 24 of the wheel on the master post brought into engagementwith an upstanding pin |2| on the tensioning collar during swingingmotion of the wheels to carry the same off the turntable or the topmostof the records accumulated thereon.

Horizontal swinging motion of the pickup arm about the vertical axis ofthe master post 2| while the arm is in a neutral position isaccomplished by rotation of the pulley 32 which is rotatably receivedupon the lower end of the tubular mount 21 of the master post betweenthe lower end of the bushing 28 and the lever 63.

For this purpose the pulley ange 3| has an arcuate notch |23 in itsedge, the extremities of which are dened by substantially radiallydisposed shoulders |24 and |25. The pin 96 which is carried by thetubular arm 34 of the pickup projects downwardly through the opening |0|in the base plate and into the notch |23 so as to lie in the path ofeither one of the shoulders |24 and |25 during oscillatory motion of thepulley 32.

Hence, with the pickup arm in a position such as it would occupy at thecompletion of playing a record, that is, close to the spindle 8,rotation of the pulley in a clockwise direction from its position seenin Figure 3 engages the shoulder |24 of the pulley with the pin 96 onthe arm to swing the pickup arm outwardly to its retracted position(shown in Figure 3) away from the turntable; while rotation of thepulley in a counterclockwise direction is adapted to bring the shoulder|25 on the pulley against the pin 96 and to return the pickup arm thecomparatively short distance necessary to vertically align the stylus onthe pickup arm with the peripheral edge portions of records on thewheels |1 or on the turntable.

The pulley 32 is rotated by means of a belt or band |21 trained about itand a second pulley |28 mounted on a stud |29 projecting from theunderside of the base plate for rotation on a vertical axis. The pulley|28 is drivingly connected through a friction clutch |3| with a pinion|30, likewise rotatably mounted on the stud |29 at the topside of thepulley. rI he efficacy of the clutch is controlled by a spring |32-conned between the head of the stud and the pulley |28 and may beregulated by turning the stud into or out of the base plate to adjustthe force of the spring. The purpose of the friction clutch is to enablemanual swinging of the pickup arm regardless of its position relative tothe turntable.

Rotation is adapted to be imparted to the drive pulley |28 and the gear|30 connected therewith by either one of two rack bars |34 and |35opveratively associated with the gears 48 and 49 respectively. Each ofthe bars has a bifurcated inner end |36 embracing a reduced portion |31of the shaft for its respective main gear, and

I headed pins |38 passing through elongated slots |40 in the oppositeends of the bars cooperate with the gear shafts to mount the bars forendwise sliding motion in a crossed condition.

Each of the rack bars has teeth |43 on the edge thereof adjacent to thegear |30 which are normally disengaged from the gear but are broughtinto mesh with the gear upon endwise sliding motion of the barsoutwardly of the main gears 48 and 49.

Such sliding motion is transmitted to the rack bars to effect rotationof the gear |30 by means of cam followers |45 and |46, on the bars |34and |35 respectively, engaged in cam tracks |41 and |48 formed in thetopsides of the main gears 48 and 49 respectively.

The angular disposition of these cam tracks in relation to one anotheris such that rotation of either of the gears 48 or 49 through an arc ofapproximately from their positions shown in Figure 3 is necessary beforeendwise outward sliding motion of the rack bars commences; and such thatrotation of both said gears through an are of about 270 is required toreturn the rack bars to their positions shown in Figure 3.

Hence, it will be apparent that during one complete revolution of eitherof the gears 48 or 49', one of the rack bars will be rst propelledoutwardly to swing the pickup arm away from the turntable, andsubsequently will be moved inwardly to effect swinging motion of thepickup arm to a position in line with the outer periphery of the recordsto be played.

Attention is directed to the fact that the pickup arm must be swungoutwardly away from the spindle axis a similar distance regardless ofwhether a 10 or a 12 record is being played, but the extent of inwardlswinging motion of the pickup arm must be automatically controlled foralignment of the stylus either with the peripheral portion of a 10record or the peripheral portion of a 12" record to be played.

One manner in which such control of inward swinging motion of the pickuparm may be effected has been shown more or less diagrammatically inFigure 3, and this mechanism comprises a bar |5| having a centralelongated slot |52 to receive the shanks of headed pins |53 spaced aparta distance less than the length of the slot and nearly in line with theaxis of the master post 2|. The pins |53 thus provide for limited end-Wise sliding motion of the bar |5| toward and from the master post.

In the position of the bar shown, a notch |54 in the side edge of thebar facing the main gear 49 aligns arcuately with a pin |55 carried bythe ange 3| of the pulley 32, and the engagement of the pin in thebottom of the notch |54 determines the extent of inward swinging motionof the pickup arm toward the spindle axis for the playing of 10"records. When the bar is slid to the right of its Figure 3 position, theunnotched side edge of the bar is engaged by the pin |55 during swingingof the pickup arm inwardly toward the spindle axis to limit suchswinging motion of the arm at a point where the stylus of the armsubstantially aligns with the peripheral edge portions of l2 records.

The bar |5| is adapted to be actuated by the record dropping mechanismso that upon setting of the posts for the support or a stack of 10"records on the blades of the mechanism, the bar |5| will be carried toits limit of motion shown in Figure 3. Likewise swinging of the posts |5of of the dropping mechanism to their positions at table are controlledby the gear 49 during rota-- tion thereof through one completerevolution to carry the cams and rollers thereon into operativeengagement with their associated mechanisms.

Stated in another manner, it will be seen that the gear 48 must berotated through one complete revolution to eiect release of a record tobe played by the dropping mechanism and to begin the playing of theunderside of such released record deposited on and rotated by thewheels; while the gear 49 must be rotated through one completerevolution after completion of the pla-ying of the underside of a recordin order to effect transfer of the record to the turntable and to beginthe playing of the topside of said record on the turntable. Also afterplaying of the topside of the record on the turntable, the gear 48 againmust be rotated through one complete revolution to cause another recordto be released by the dropping mechanism and to begin the playing of theunderside of such record while the same is supported on and rotated bythe wheels |1.

The selective automatic connection of the main gears with the drivepinion at the proper times is controlled jointly by the switch |12 atthe dictation of the pickup arm, and jointly by the double pole doublethrow snap switch |19 as stated previously.

The snap switch |19 is preferably mounted alongside the wheel post 20 atthe underside of the base plate, and its actuator |9| projects laterallyoutwardly therefrom to lie between and in the path of motion of a pairof circumferentially spaced lugs |92 and |93 formed on a ange xed to thepost 20 to rotate therewith as the wheels swing back and forth betweentheir operative and inoperative positions with respect to the turntable.

In Figure 3 the position of the post 20 indicates that the wheels I1have been swung outwardly and rolled off the turntable to theirinoperative positions, and that the lug |93 on the post 20 has snappedthe switch |19 to its position shown in Figure 27 bridging thestationary contacts |94 and |95 of the switch. When the wheels I1 areswung back onto the turntable or the topmost of the records restingthereon, the lug |92 on the post 20 engages the actuator |9| of theswitch to carry the contactor of the switch out of engagement with thecontacts |94 and |95 and into bridging engagement with the second pairof stationary contacts |96 and |91 of the switch.

Each time the switch |12 is caused to be closed by motion of the pickuparm at the completion of the playing of one side of a record, eitherunderside of topside, one or the other of the electromagnetic trips |80or |8| will be caused to become energized to initiate rotation of thegear associated therewith. Thus the purpose of the double pole doublethrow snap switch |19 is to cause the electromagnetic trips to beenergized alternately to first cause the underside of a record to beplayed on the wheels |1 and to thereafter cause the topside of a recordto be played' upon the turntable.

To effect this purpose it will be noted that one end of the solenoid |88is connected to the contact |94 of the switch 19 by means of a conductor200, while one end of the solenoid |89 is connected to the contact |91of the switch through a conductor 20|; and that the parallel connectedswitches |69 and |12 are connected with both stationary contacts |95 and|96 of the switch |19 through conductors 202 and 203 respectively,joined with a common conductor 204 leading to the conductor |14 of theswitches |69 and |12. The opposite ends of the solenoids |88 and |89 areconnected by means of a common conductor 205 with one line LI of a pairof power lines so that energization of either one of the electromagnetictrips may be eiected by a circuit leading through the double pole doublethrow switch |19, one of the parallel connected switches |69 or |12, andthe switch |68 to the return line L2 by means of the conductor |13 whichleads through the switch |68 in the closed condition of the latter. Itis to be understood, of course, that the switch |168 is connectedbetween the return line L2 and the parallel connected switches |69 and|12, as will be apparent from the electrical diagram.

Operation To automatically play both sides of each of a stack of 10records, the posts of the dropping mechanism are iirst turned to theirproper positions as is usually indicated upon the topmost blade of theposts. This motion of the posts carries the slide |5| to its positionshown in Figure 3 at which the notch |54 of the slide aligns with thepin |55 on the ange 3| of the pulley 32 and assures that the pickup armwill be properly aligned with the rst grooves of 10l records. Therecords may then be placed upon the leaves of the dropping mechanism.

Due to the condition of the parts shown in Figure 3, it may also beassumed that the pickup arm has been previously manually swung out awayfrom the turntable and that the player has been stopped with the recordsupporting wheels I1 rolled oi the turntable.

To start the automatic playing of both sides of a stack of records thusplaced on the blades of the mechanism, it is necessary for the operatorto make sure the sequence selector button |6| has been moved to itsposition shown in full lines in Figure 2. Thereafter, the start rejectbutton |62 is momentarily depressed to effect closure of the snap switch|64 and energization of the turntable motor so that the turntable spinsin a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2. Such depression of thestart reject button also momentarily closes switch |69.

Since the double pole double throw snap switch |19 has its stationarycontacts |94 and |95 bridged when the wheels |1 are oi the turntable,this switch cooperates with the switch |69 and the switch |68 to effectcompletion of an energizing circuit through the coil of theelectromagnetic trip at the time the start reject button is depressed.

The energization of the electromagnetic trip |80 causes the tooth lever|85 on the gear 48 to be swung into mesh with the teeth of the drivepinion 5| and thereby cause the teeth on the gear 48 to be brought intomesh with the teeth of the drive pinion for rotation of the gear 48through one complete revolution by the pinion.

Throughout the first 50 of rotation of the gear 48 the cam 11 thereonslides the neutralizing bar 19 endwise away from the master post 2| tocause the leveling cap 13 on the master post to be pulled downwardly bymeans of the cable 15. This brings the underside of the cap intoengagement with the ends of the radial pins 10 and 1| on the rock shaft35 of the pickup arm to cause the arm to be brought to a neutralposition, that is, to a substantially horizontal posi-

